Parking meter



Nov- 24. 1 3 R. F. BROUSSARD ETAL PARKING METER 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledFeb. 2, 1950 n m x J m NZ m mrm. a a? d/ dw awm km H "wa I Z W B 2 mm\\a NO 2 1953 I R. F. BROUSSARD E'TAL 2,660,283

' PARKING METER Filed Feb. 2, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiat/enters: 4RbbertEBrozzssard-fiEn JMg'Zler LesterD. So llenbezger d/Sherman LCistezzsezz Nov. 24, 1953 Filed Feb. 2, 1950 R. F. BROUSSARD ET ALPARKING METER 10 Sheets-Sheet' 3 Inventors: lzobertEBro ussard fiezzzyrfllz'ller ZesterD. ,5 0! Z ezzbergez 4 5126222222? L Christensen Nov- 21 R. F. BROUSSARD ET AL ,5 3

PARKING METER Filed Feb. 2, 1950, 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 I21 rren tars RobertE'Brpus'sa rd ffezzryrlMzller LesterD. 5'01 Z enberger y 512 erman Z.Christensen Ataornazys N V- 4. 1953 R. F. BROUSSARD ET AL 2,660,283

PARKING METER l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 2. 1950 w&

RobertEBroussara HenryJMzZler Zesterll SoZZezzlgerg'er S12 erman L.Cfzrzstensn R. F. BROUSSARD ET AL PARKING METER Nov. 24, 1953 24, 1953R. F. BROUSSARD ET AL 2,660,283

PARKING METER Filed Feb. 2, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 fig. 15

In men tors: v

.BobertEBzp us'sazcl .HezzryrlM liar Lesa-e 0.- SoZZenberger '4 ShermanL. Christensen Attorney Nov. 24, 1953 R. F. BRoUssARD ET AL 2,660,283

PARKING METER Filed Feb. 2, 1950 V v 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 J22 vezztons:

kobertjiBqaussard HenryJMzller Zesterl). sollezzb erger '2 SkermanZ.Clzrzstensezz Nov. 24, 1953 R. F. BROUSSARD ETAL PARKING METER l0Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Feb. 2. 1950 N v- 2 1953 R. F. BROUSSARD ETAL2,660,283

PARKING METER l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Feb. 2, 1950 Inventors:

.PobertL'Brpussard HenrydIMzZZer Zesterl). 5'0 ZZenbe-rger *H Sherman Z.Christensen fly Auroral tijon of; the meter througkfthejqse ofapeffi eq'Vt'e et and l epert the trouble a-hd; thei'eby min;-

Patented Nov. 24, 1953 a .g g eoesa ZA KY N MM mi i b ua y 2, 59)., $.fii l; kil

me he e g th f qn- The fih w latieni 4mm e e lx to qr aini a. u r s! ter xgegtgfindglismgmitq t'llicit 9;: tines,

@ 512, e the t e re n he 'lxlnuellx e ekali met'er sett'ing element'gfitex ineel tiqx; 6f 111g fiysj; coin and prior to insertion of thesecond. It is ace-qrdipgly one of the major objeqt s of t ljjg i lgv eixti'on qqfizroyide "meat-gs 'e'ffeeti ye t6 pylevelop jamming of themeteij mechanism agat resu lb of any attempt 'to feree two ci-n s intothe fijebex wiehofit'i-ntefmediately 'ae-tguating 0 1 -1 oirj cafl iegfGQmpFiSedin the meeh-ni'sm'. Another objeefli's. tdQrVent; effectiveqpega glues, such as Washers; the plhce eif g en ne coihsj A'furtherobject is; 136 pie (1 whieh \lvil l serve to Whenever such 1s thfei;that the meter is 0 son c bw i'm n Re i w henarlaz capi iief beingjammedin 1 of? p m'l p0 V with; a, fil qnt ele avg: thus enabling thefficei" njduty 0E1: nee de 1 i- 5 Q5 ilf qefii p-tai nec} gagging xyeter1% mm}: nfl 1ti 2m w hin the mize the periods during which the magis'notproperly fimeoioni-ng.

Siamp notherobject is to provide means efi-ectiy-e to firmly anchorth-e'meterme'eh" $5., in ee-qnemtiqn' otlaen pate in: the housing:- thereforso fihaiflfl 1's po-itmned QQQQOQ the meter mm to function properlywhile at th 'saihe t'fnge'fi within the housing and to aid in seeqgig3gwe ing easfly and quiekly- Removable ir'ii fieplaejeabl e, a m e in9159B, subieqt'ig o i rqtentiqgny l; withdgawal; there'py greatlyexpediting hteiiie AH na' .qbi w 'fid iqx a i m ow e e is a se fi mjkYEW, taken at.- line ex 4. sm m z el ia ism th locating plate 2m Iisfialf sfi ep whwhf mm cdnj'ointly-with the locating plate of Fig. 5, to

locate and secure the meter mechanism in place within the housing;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the locating plate for the metermechanism;

Fig. 6 is a small scale front elevation of the meter mechanism.exclusive of the housing;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevation of the meter mechanism as viewedfrom the left of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevation of the meter mechanism as viewedfrom the right of Fig. 6 (being the reverse of Fig. '7) the manuallyoperable coin inductor being omitted from this view in order to exposeother parts located at the rear thereof;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section, taken on line 99 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is an exploded view showing the framework of the meter mechanismand the graduated time scales or dial plates, together with a fewmechanical parts including the violation flag and the manually operablecoin inductor by means of which the meter is manually set for operationcoincidentally with the deposit of a coin;

Figs. 11 and 11a, taken together, constitute an exploded view of themechanical components of the meter mechanism which, for the most part,are located on or immediately associated with what will be referred toas themajor axis, Fig. 11a beinga continuation of Fig. 11;

Fig. 12 is an assembly of the parts shown in Figs. 11' and 11a;

Fig. 13 is an exploded view showing, in perspective, a group of partswhich for the most part are located at a lower level than those shown inFigs. 11, 11a and 12, and comprising the plates forming the coin track,the coinrelease mechanism, the coin counter and the pawl which advancesthe time-setting plate in response to a minor coin;

Fig. 14 is an exploded view showing in perspective the time-indicating.pointer and certain associated parts, together with the trouble flagand a yoke which serves as a coupling medium between the trouble flagand the violation flag;

Fig; .15 is a sectional view, taken at line l5-l5 of Fig. 7, showing theseveral exhibited parts in their normal positions; Fig. 16 is asectional view, taken at line 16-15 of Fig. 7, showing the manuallyoperated coin inductor in a partially depressed position and the powerplate in a corresponding position;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 16, showing the coin inductor in fullydepressed position and the power plate in its extreme ofi-normalposition wherein it is latched to the coin carrier and about to returnto normal position, thus rotating the coin carrier from coin-receivingto coin discharge position; Fig. 18 is a view similar to Figs. 16 and1'7, showing the manually operated coin inductor and the power platerestored to normal position and illustrating how the latch isde-actuated to allow the coin carrier to return to its normal position,a, major coin being shown in process of being discharged from the coincarrier into the coin chute; Figs. 19-22 inclusive are views designed toillustrate progressively the manner in which the timing mechanism is setfor operation in response to a major coin, Fig. 22 being intended toillustrate a special situation which often arises where the meter isadapted to afford two major units oi parking time in exchange for twomajor coins, and wherethe second major coin is inserted in the coin slotjust prior to expiration of one such unit of time;

Figs. 23-25 inclusive are views designed to illustrate progressively themanner in which the timing mechanism is set for operation in response toa minor coin, Fig. 24 being intended to illustrate how the diiference indiameter between a major and a minor coin is accentuated by alter-Preliminary explanation of the subject parking meter and statement ofinvention The specific parking meter chosen for illustration anddescription is susceptible of operation with coins of two differentdenominations, viz., coins of two different diameters, as for examplenickels and pennies. The coin of larger diameter is referred to hereinas a major coin whereas the coin or small diameter is referred to as aminor coin. The meter is designed to receive a maximum of two majorcoins, or one major coin and five minor coins, or ten minor coins, andto afford proportionate parking time; but none of the novel features ofthe invention is limited in its utility to meters answering to the abovedescription.

The entire meter installation herein chosen by way of example comprisesa metal housing mounted on a hollow post within which is a removablecoin box, and a self-contained unitary meter mechanism mounted for easyremoval within the housing. The present application is concernedprincipally but not entirely with the meter mechanism per se.

7 The major components of the meter mechanism itself are:

A. A power mechanism including a rotary power plate, a power springrotationally biasing the power plate toward a normal position, a latchcarried by the power plate and operative to releasably couple the powerplate to the coin carillustrated n rier, a manually operable element forenergizing and setting the meter and constituting a coin inductor whichmay take the form of a pivoted arm or push plate having a coin slitthrough which coins are admitted to the coin carrier, and a pusher linkhinged to the manually operable element and operative upon depression ofsaid element for rotating the power plate from its normal position to analternative position wherein the power plate is latched to the coincarrier.

B. A coin carrier designed to receive coins, one at a time, as they arepassed through the coin slit of the coin inductor and which is rotatableby the power mechanism from a normal coin-receiving posture to analternate coin-discharge position, and mounting a spring-biased coingauge which is movable in response to a major coin to a predeterminedposition in which it is effective upon rotation of the coin carrier toset the time indicator for a period corresponding to the value of themajor coin (usually one hour) and movable in response to a minor coin toa diiferent predetermined position in which it is effective uponrotation of the coin carrier to set the'time indicator for a shorterperiod proportionate to the value of the minor coin.

.Time 7. indicating; means: in; the; forms. 0t: 91: graduated scalelenardiali plate and ax-timeind-i. cater(en-pointer:coeoperatinawiththascale and spring-biased toward the-zeroscaleind-icia but movable along? the: scale in response to.coin-control-led actuation ot the. meter to} an extent- G01-.-=respending. to "the "value. of the deposited-v coin D.- A timingregulatorhorlbrake-inthe. formant a gear traintandtescapementwhichiunctions .to retard the return movements 0t the time. indi eaten;v

E. A coinmounting.mechanism; which registersin accordances with the-lvalue) of: each: deposited coin anct thus provides I a cumulativerecord. at receipts? V v r A coin release-mechanism which.- operates toarrest each coin inaregistration withuan-oba servation window-- and.thereafter. releases arrested coin-whenanother. coint of .the:samedenomination isri nsertecitin-the meter... 7

To the; meter. for obtainment-t ofllpark-ingtime ,the motorist insertseither. a major or a mi-nor coinin the coin. slit and; simultaneouslyexerts pressure against. themanually operable coin-inducter in which nthe coinrsli't is formed; and he: may, if he desires ,,.insert twomajor. coins or' ar iy number of" minor coins upgtorthe .valueof twomajor coins and=-thusvobtain the maximum allowable parking time or any.desired =proportionate part thereot He must, however.,,.aetuate the-coininductor after eacl'rinsertion oil a. single coin -because the coincarrier is not dIesi'gnecl'e to receive more than one coin at a time.

v When after inserting. a. proper. coin, thee-ustomer depresses themanually? operable inductor plate, he causes-the power plate. totrotatefrom a; normal at rest. position to an alternate posi' tionv and? at'the same time energizes a. power springnwhieh functions to returntliepower. plate to. it's normal position When the. power plate reachesits alternate position, a. latch..carried thereby engages the coincarrier and couples.=the same to the power plate so. that; upon thereturn rotation ofth'e power plate under. theiinpetusoi the power"spring, it carries. with it thecoincar:

rier andthus rotates the coin carrier from. its coin-receiving positionto the coin-discharge p0.- sitionb As soon as the coin carrierreachesthe coin-discharge position; the coin carrier is. re.-

lease'ci' and a biasing spring. connected." thereto r returns the coincarrier to its coin-receiving position where it is ready. to receiveanother. coin. During rotation of the coin carrier away from itscoin-receiving position,. it carries with it either ama or or minor coinwhich is held in place by '3'.

a stationary coin track along. which the coin rollfs or'slides: and thecoin gauge is at the same time held" by the coin in an offnormalposition correspondingflto the diameter of the coin. If'thc coi'ri is' amajor one, the coin gauge is so positioned therebythat it. engages atooth on atiine control plate and is thereby effective to. move. thetime indicator through a major angular distance discharge position. Ifthe coin is a minor one, the coin gauge is so positioned. thereby that.it

.does not engage the time control plate tooth. but,

opposition of a restoring spring which immein response to rotation ofthe coin carrier while 7 the latter is moving from coin-receiving tocoindiatelttebecomesteffu i j to-rmovesaicl indica or tower tweezersnosit ontat;atratede erin ue the .timing regulatorWhi1e..the.-il1us.trated= 6.12 .11. mechanism is del enea to: aff nd iave-ma imum twdmaionunita onelmaiorunithoi parking time. The...duration,

of, Jonemajor. unitpf. time ordinarily is. onehou z, but that isdetermined by the time.- regulator which cannbedesigneieither toincrease or decnease; the interval required ior the time inai: Gatontoscan the graduated scale.

It isunfortunately thefact that. parkingimeters areeamong. the favoritetargets of vandals and pltacticaL experiencewith parking, meters has.brought to li ht certain vu1nerabilliti s, whi h such persons. havebeen. able to discover, angii tlq the c s ofe-whichnthe Present: inrntiou is paIZ-tidirected'.

Inthe. absenceof. efijective. counter proyi'sion, itlis possibleinsomeparking meters. to. insert a, minor coin in .thecoin vslit.andnthenthrough theuseot a; second, coin .fiipthefirst comet, ward-Ly,causing. it...t'o .escape.the. coin carrier, and sometimes. get into-,a.,position Where itwill. jam the: mechanism; Theeperpetratorsotsuch.v a scheme obtainno. parking. time but they. do ,diSr, credit theparking, meters. so put .out oft. order, One of the-features of] thisihvention consi'sts in the "provision! of. a. spring-biased ,armpiyotally connected to and carri'edby the manually open.- able-coi'n.inductor. and, operativeas, a, barrier against upwarddiversion ofinserted. coins while at the. same time being. yieldahle to .permitumhampered. movement. of the coinuinductor with some. parking,v meters.it, has also. been found possibleto obtain a major, unitot p Zng time inexchangerfor, a..,minor coin by partially d p ssin and. holding hmanually perable coininductor while inserting a minor (20.1mm the coinslit and. thenpushina he m nor. oin intothecoin. carrier by means ofasecond coin, and thereafter fully depressing.thecoiniudtlctor Theresult of. such a, manipulation is toceuwe. the fiI'StriII-SfiItGdminor. coin. to. displace the coin gaugeto. an. extent. equal. to, thedis ,acement thereof normally. effective laya major oin., he presentinvention dfiieats. any. Such irauclulent operation through. the,provision. of a barrier which normally doesnot interfere with insertionofa. oointintothe coinslithut whichdoes change its position as themanually operable coinihductori isdepressed so as; to prevent insertionof second. coin at a time when. it would be possible by!: so, doing; to,accomplish, th purpose intended. Ifthe two. coins are inserted whilethe. coininductcr remains in a nonrtlepressed po -Q L h barrier-Will-eject the-second coin and thusthwart the fraudulentattempt.

Anotherpoint elf-vulnerability present in. oer.- tain priorparkingqmeters is. that, through the conjoint use. of two. coins. it ispossible; to dis-a place. the coin. gauge and rotate the. coin carriersufficientlyto obtain: several. minutesof parking time, and then.retrieve both coinsmthe power mechanism being still unaetuated. Such anatt mpt may be. successfully def ate t u the. provision of. a. meltinmechanism w ichv D 3 vents rotation of the, coin, carrier from. ifiucoihreceiving position. until just. prior to: th instant w n. the powerplate commen e i s eturn stroke, whereupon the coin carrier is unlockeddiameters and thicknesses.

so that it is free to follow the power plate. There is so little marginbetween the release of the coin carrier and the commencement of itsrotation by the power plate that for all practical purposes it isvirtually impossible to unlock the coin carrier by depressing the coininductor without also causing the power mechanism to rotate the coincarrier; and even if such a delicate manipulation might occasionally besuccessfully performed, it could rarely, if ever, be done while at thesame time attempting to rotate the unlocked coin carrier through the useof two coins, in the manner above related.

In earlier meter constructions the brass plates which form the two sidesof the coin track, and which are spaced apart to provide an interiorcoin slot leading into the coin carrier, are susceptible of being forcedapart to such an extent that it is possible to jam two minor coinstherebetween, and thus put the meter out of working order until it iscleared by a service man. Resort t0 the use of heavier plates orreinforcements therefor to overcome this difiiculty has not beenpracticable for various reasons. In the present mechanism the problemhas been solved by providing the meter-locating plate with a pair oflaterally spaced rigid fingers which function when the locating plate isin position to reinforce the brass plates which form sides for the cointrack. This renders it impossible to press two minor coins into theinterior coin slot, thereby avoiding the possibility of coin jams atthis point.

The most usual way of defrauding parking meters and othercoin-controlled mechanisms is through the use of slugs, and the mostreadily available slugs are usually apertured iron or brass washerswhich can easily be obtained in suitable A feature of the presentinvention is the novel device which obstructs full rotation of the powerplate thus prevents release of the coin carrier in response to insertionof an apertured washer therein. While operation of the meter by means ofimperforate slugs is not prevented, the meters are rendered incapable ofoperation with what is by far the most easily obtainable form of slughaving suitable dimensions.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the provision of atrouble flag which opcrates upon failure of either the power plate ordifference of diameters is small, extreme precision is required incertain parts in order to enable the responsive mechanism to distinguishbetween the two denominations. The present invention embraces a novelfeature which eliminates the need for such close tolerances. Thisconsists in the simple expedient of changing the contour of the cointrack so as to increase its radial dis tance from the axis of rotationof the coin carrier within the sector occupied by a minor coin when thecoin gauge encounters the pawl which functions to rotate the timecontrol plate in responseto deposit of a minor coin. The portion of thecoin track which determines the effect of the deposited major coinremains unchanged.

In certain meter constructions the manually operable coin inductor isconnected to the power mechanism through the agency of gears which serveto effect a reversal of direction and at the same time an increase'inthe rotative movement 8 of the manually operable element. An importantfeature of the present invention is the elimination of all such gearswith resultant smoother and easier operation as well as a substantialsaving in production cost.

Still another feature of this invention is an improvement in thearrangement for operating the violation flag. In the prior constructionsthe violation flag has been directly actuated by the manually operablecoin inductor, whereas in the present construction it is actuated onlyindirectly in response to depression thereof and in such a way that itis not possible to put time on the meter without withdrawing theviolation flag and keeping it withdrawn until the purchased parking timehas expired. It has been possible, upon deposit of either a major orminor coin, to so manipulate the manually operable coin inductor thatthe meter can be set without moving the violation flag to a concealedposition: in the case of a major coin, operation of the violation flaghas been produced by depressing the manually operable coin inductorslowly and then releasing it slowly, after hearing the latch click andbefore the trip is released; and in the case of a minor coin a likeresult has been achieved by quickly releasing the coin inductor afterdepressing the same. Although the perpetrator cannot thereby obtainunpaid-for parking time, the violation flag is maintained in an exposedposition to annoy the attending oiiicer and also to disparage parkingmeters generally, or a given product in particular, as might best accordwith his sinister purpose. 7

Where a parking meter of the type here dealt with is adapted to be setso as to afford two major units of parking time in exchange for twomajor coins, it sometimes happens that a customer will deposit a majorcoin at a time when the meter shows nearly a whole major unit ofunexpired time; and when that situation arises the coin gauge is apt tostrike the tip of one of the teeth of the time control plate, or tostrike the time control plate at a point near the tip of the tooth, forwhich reason a one-piece coin gauge will not yield sufiiciently topermit complete entry of a major coin into the coin carrier. And if thecustomer should try to force the coin into the meter he probably woulddamage the coin gauge to such an extent that it might requirereplacement. A feature of the present invention is the remedy providedfor such a condition, viz., a two-piece coin gauge which is yieldable topermit insertion of a major coin without damage to itself.

Still another feature resides in a novel and effective provision forlocating and removably anchoring the meter mechanism within the housingtherefor. Servicing operations are thereby facilitated and reduced to avirtual minimum of time for the removal or replacement of the metermechanism, while at the same time insuring accurate location of themeter mechanism so that it will function properly and dependably.

General description with reference to the drawings The parking meterinstallation herein disclosed comprises a housing H supported on asuitable post (not shown), a meter mechanism M, and a removable coin boxB which is positioned below the meter mechanism. A coin-receiving slotis provided in the coin box at its upper end, in register with-acoin-discharge opening in the bottom of the meter mechanism, to receivetherefrom bothmajor and minor-coins as they descend by gravity. r

- I-he housing '=I-I--comprises a hollow body ill which preferably isran-aluminum casting,- and a removable cover 12- including a transparenthemispherical dome -l-3,-preferably plastic,=and a-metal retainer -l 4'wh ich serves to hold the dome I 3' in gplace and *isthreadedinternally to -detachably engage the housing-body. The arched portion Maofthe dome: |3 fiS' a relatively narrow bridge and does not enclose the-dome-or interfere with essential visibility therethrough of the gradu---'ated "time scale andflindicator; rnor 'Offl'ihfi trouble andvvi'olationfla'gs. An annular gasket 1 5 -isfheld against the-peripheraledge of the dome 13 by "means of a-ring fllfiwhichis threaded intofith eretainer 14,:thus "rendering the housing weathertight.

"The meter mechanismM j is a self-contained. *unit which can thewithdrawn "bodily from the housin after 1 first removing the dome "t3,and iris-appropriately located and removablyjheld in place-within thehousing by means of ajlocating h nine p ate?! 8. .fisee'Ei tif ltflmd a.keep '2'!) (seeiFig. 4). Some ofthenovel features of the presentinvention involve the"locating platelB and the keeperi2il, concerningwhich a detailed ,descriptionwill be 'givenat a later p oint. Thelocating plate f8, serves, among ;other pur oses, "in co-operation withthe keeper 20, to so position the "meter 'mechanismfthat aimanuallyoperable element; constituting a'coin inductor, in which is included acoin receiving "slit, registers with an opening 22through the wall ofthe'housing-body H2; -and at the -same-time functions to align the -coindischarge-opening int-he bottom-*ofthemeter mechanism -with*the--coinreceiving opening in "the top of -the coin-box;=-B,-*-the*object being -to -"expedite-servicing' of the metersby-making it-pos- --sib1e"'-ior -'authorized-employees "to remove and--rep1aee themetermechanismquickly and without exercise "of specialskill. -Acircu1ar-plate-23 supported on; the frame =ofthemeter=-mechanism -M -ser-ves to-concearirom view the-apparatus-there--below,-ancl-provides a-conspicuous surface-forms- -play=f relevantparking regulations-such as-the hours during whichparking tolls arerequired to be pa-id, and theprevailing exceptions.

All-*the component parts of the-metermechanism are 'supported directly--or indirectly; by an articulated framework comprising primarily athreenlaterally spaced plates 2.5,1-2 6 and-2 l a num- --loersof1tubular1 spacers/ 28, a number .ottie bolts 1129. which ,:pass.through the plates ,and the espacers,sanduacnumber of screws 7130 which.are

;;threaded.into:.the:ends of theitie bolts i-29. The

--.-exp1-Qded perspective View of Figa'sloo shows :the configurations:0f;;the .1 three frame s; plates. o and serves, in conjunction; withFigs. 7+9, .to clarify ,cthe. construction :of; the framework. it For icon- --venience, ;we;may refer to the plate 125 .as thesfront;..plate,..to the rplate 2'! has .the back plate, aandrto-the;plate 2 Fisas the intermediate: plate.

z 1Unused;.parking;time.. is shown byuaatime indi- 1 1: in the; formsfranpoin erfifi 1 having :an-Jaxis 10 plished by inserting either amajor or minor coin in thencoinrreceiving slit :40. and depressing themanually operable coin Zinductor A lsinvrwhichsth coin-receivingslit-AlI'isformed.

Thescoin rinductorAl which may take the {015m of a push plate andEissometimes so. referredito hereinazfitenfis .aucastrmetallpar-tcomprising a fingers-engaging bridge portion 41a interconnecting twolaterally spaced-parallel amn'seal'btand Ail c each ofwhichilis.aperturediatitslowerrextremity to engage arulorum. :The-fulcrum to whichathe arm 41b is-connected.isoneiofl'the tubular.spacers 28; and thelafulcrumito which the arm Aslcjslcori- "nec'ted is ascrew 32' which "latter is one of the group which S'includesi the screwsJ36 ibut haso'a'n extra -longheadk'to iafiordan adequate :heai'lysurface forthe arm-41c (seeiFigs- 8 and '10).

spring as and normally assumes the outward position in Which, it ii-sshown in. Figsgl and :6. A pin :44 tsee' Fig. -10.) :projectinglaterallyf-rom -0ne side-0f the'coin inductor functions tO'Jliffiit thereciprocatorymovement thereof in both-directions, and r for that purposeis extended through an arcuate 51913 45 in the-plateifi (See1Fig.110-)'Z' 'Apusher link lt is pivotally' connected atone end toralug' 4412 which forms an integral Lpart of thecoin inductor AI see'Eigsl :10 randand normally assumes the approximately horizontal positionin which it is shown F-igt 515 Ellis link serves as a'powerttransmitting' medium between the coin inducto'r lliand a socalled 'power mechanism, which latter is =energized in response to eachinward movement of the coin inductor and-thereupon utilizes its-storedenergy to rota'te a-coin carrier, which, initurn; is effective toseta'timing. mechanism proportionately to the value of the :deposited coin.

"The power mechanism includes a power plate 48 .(see especially-Figs. "9and l l) anixeddo a sleeve :49 with which" it. is rotatable and which isdiametrically slotted .at 56 (see Figs'Q 9 and a) to engagethe medialportion of a ribbo'nr-power spring 5! ,where his reversed and. Woundinto coils whoseopposite ends are slotted for engagement i by'hooks-t lawhich are inset from a sheet metal housing. 52 detachably connectedwith capacity for rota-tive adjustment to "the outer surface of thefrOnt'f-ramepIate-Z S with-theai'cl of rivets 52a. A spring-so 'formedis doubl-y effec- I tive for .supplyingthe power desired for operationof the associated mechanism. The-sleeve is journaled in an;opening--inthe-'plate-25 andj'in turn,-provides a bearing for a shaft- 53the-function of'wh-ieh will late'rbeexplainedf A steel roller 54 iscarrid bya pin-55 ,which,

in turn, isseeured tooneface of th e powe plate -48 at a point radiallyremot'efr'orriits for rotation m. is Pos d f age e'ntfby the ed t ejilSh Ji kji4611i ch d pr sion -cf the coin inductorf {4 I. :Th'; free ndof h pusher-dink is "concave'd -;to conform to the 'p p ypf the rollertd'(see' F i g l'5) anld this 11m; is also provided w ta tailpieeejfia,which 65 normally, bears against a ss onjthe son "in- A! spring p 46 jdownwardly; toward the nor al which it is. showh .,in Fig. l5.,v As theductor M ispressed inwa d t was 46 engages the roller 54 Qand; hus

power plate jamalid ri hlsleey determined di and "shy powerwspringii ptwhel h is released it will return to its normal position under theimpetus of this spring. The normal position of the power plate isdetermined by a stop 51 (see Fig. 15) which normally engages a. shoulderon the power plate.

.A latch 60 (see Fig. 11) carried by and rotatable on a pivot 6| securedto the power plate 48, is biased by a spring 62 in the clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 15, and in the counterclockwise direction asviewed in Figs. 16-18 inclusive. This latch includes three radiallyprojecting arms 60a, 60b and 600 (see Fig. 11). When the power plate isin its normal position (see Fig. 15) the arm 6% is pressed by the spring62 against the stop 51; when, however, the power plate is moved awayfrom the normal position of Fig. 15, the latch 50 is rotated by thespring 62 until the arm 600 is brought to bear against a stop pin 63carried by and projecting laterally from the power plate. The functionof the latch 6|] will be explained in connection with a coin carrier 66now to be considered.

The coin carrier is a self-contained subassembly and is shown mostclearly, as an entirety, in Fig. 11. Many of the parts included in thecoin carrier sub-assembly are separately shown in Fig. 11, it beingimpossible to illustrate clearly the entire assembled unit in aperspective View. The body of the coin carrier is identified as a wholeby the reference numeral 66, and it consists principally of two outerplates El and 69 and an intermediate plate 68 fixedly secured togetherand rigidly mounted on a bushing III which is rotatable on the sleeve 39forming part of the power mechanism (see Figs. 9 and 11). The sleeve 43has an annular groove at its inner end for reception of a snap-on washer12 which serves to hold the coin carrier in place on the sleeve 49. Acoiled torsion spring I3 (see Fig. 11) is mounted on the bushing I (seeFig. 9), and has its two ends connected respectively to the power plateand to the plate 61 of the coin carrier. This spring serves to bias thecoin carrier toward its normal coinreceiving position and consequentlyfunctions to return the coin carrier to that position after it has beenrotated by the power mechanism to the coin-discharge position and thenreleased. The three coin carrier plates 61, 68 and 69 are so contouredthat they form conjointly a coinreceiving pocket 15 designed to receiveboth major and minor coins, one at a time. This pocket opensperipherally of the carrier at a location which registers with thecoin-receiving slit 40 in the coin inductor, i. e., the push plate 4!,when the coin carrier is in its normal coinreceiving position (see Figs.11 and 15-17 inclusive) If the coin carrier were unrestrained it wouldrotate under the impetus of the power spring and, in the oppositedirection, under the impetus of its restoring spring 13 (see Fig. 11) atexcessively high speeds such that there would be no release of a minorcoin from a rocker arm,

'are reduced to form trunnions which are journaled in openings providedtherefor in the front 7 l2 and intermediate frame plates 25 and ZB (seeFig. '7). As the carrier rotates, the rocker 16 is oscillated by thealternate action of the teeth 690. on the pallets l8 and T9. Therotational inertia of the rocker 16 determines its oscillation periodwith respect to any assumed torsional force acting on the coin carrier;hence the speed of rotation of the coin carrier can be increased ordecreased by proportionately increasing or decreasing the rotationalinertia of the rocker 16.

The carrier plate 61 has a radially projecting arm 61a (see Fig. 11)which normally rests against the rocker shaft TI. A thimble 86 isattached to and projects laterally from the frame plate 26 (see Fig.'7), and is concentric with the rocker shaft 11. The arm 61a constitutesa stop means which determines the normal rotational position of the coincarrier wherein it is adapted to receive in its coin pocket 15 a coinwhich is passed thereto through the coin-receiving slit 40 of theinductor 4|.

The carrier plate 61 has a laterally projecting pin 82 on which ismounted a small roller 83 which is in the path of the free end of thearm 60a of the latch 60 when the latter is so biased by the spring 62(see Fig. 15) that its arm 60c rests against the stop pin 63 (see Fig.17) When the power plate is being rotated away from its normal positionof Fig. 15 toward the alternate rotative position shown in Fig. 16, thelatch 60 is deflected rotationally, the camming action of the roller 83bearing against the arm tea, thus allowing the latch to escape saidroller. Just before the power plate is released by disengagement of theroller 54 from the pusher link 46, and is about to return to its normalposition under the impetus of the power spring 5|, the free end of thelatch arm 86a clears the roller 83 whereupon the latch to is rotated byits biasing spring 62 to a position wherein the arm 60c bears againstthe stop pin 63. As shown in Fig. 17, the free end of the arm 60a is ina position to drivably engage the roller 83, thus coupling the coincarrier to the power plate. Immediately after the latch iii] has assumedthe position of Fig. 17, the power plate is released by an over-centermovement of the pusher link d6 which is brought about by the actionthereon of the pin 56 (see Fig. 16). During the return movement of thepower plate the coin carrier is rotated bodily from its normalcoin-receiving position to its alternate coin-discharge position asillustrated in Fig. 18. This movement of the coin carrier is effected bythe power mechanism by virtue of the roller 83 being drivably engaged bythe latch 60. While the coin carrier is being rotated from its normalcoin-receiving position to its alternate coin-discharge position thepower plate is rotating from its alternate position to the normalposition thereof shown in Fig. 15. Upon near completion of the returnmovement of the power plate, the

latch arm 60b strikes the stop 57, and the latch is thus rotated in adirection to release the roller 83, whereupon the coin carrier returnsto its normal position under the impetus of its restoring spring 13 (seeFig. 17).

The coin in the pocket 15 of the coin carrier must be held in placewhile the carrier is rotating from its normal coin-receiving position toits alternate coin-discharge position, and yet in such a way that itwill be quickly ejected when the coin carrier arrives at thecoin-discharge position. Moreover the coin must be held at apredetermined distance from the center of rotation of the coin carrier,i,-e. the majoraxis of the meter, so that it will, in turn, hold thecoin gauge (to be hereafter described detail) in 'a proper position sothat the time indicatorwill be moved to an extent corresponding eitherto a major coin or a minor coin, depending upon which; kind of coin hasbeen deposited. To these ends there is provided a coin track partiallyencirclmg the 'coin carrier and constituting a curved. coin-supportingsurface -85 in line with the coin pocket in the coin carrier may :66 andformed on one edge of'aplate 86 (see Fig. 1L3 which is held between twoadditional plates 8'! and '88 which together provide coin guide walls toprevent excessive lateraldisplacement ofl'the coins as -they ;proceedalong the coin track. The three plates 86 88 are-supported onsorneofthetie 'bolts 29 and jointly held in position laterally by certain of thetubular spacers 28. As shown in 'several of the figures (for exampleFig. 22) the coin track 85 is spaced at some distance radiallyfrbm theperiphery of the coin carrier and is effective to hold the coin onlypartially extended into the coin carrier pocket.

The coin gauge Referring now more particularly to Figs. 11 and 19 25,attention is directed to the so-called coin gauge whose primary functionis to differehtiate between 'major and minor coins and thus determinethe extent to which the time indicator shall he rotatively displaced inresponse to eacheom insertion and accompanying actuation of the push'p'lat'e 4|. In previous parking 'ine't'ers'the coin gauge has consistedof a single .spri-ng' biased arm 'pivotally connected to and carried wthe coin carrier, but here it consists, instead, of an assemblagecomprising two arms (see Fig. 11-) which are identified respectivelyby-"the reference numerals 9n and 9|. The entire assemblage includes,additionally, a spool-like spaeerez around which is boiled a wirespring9'3, and a pi'n 94 which functions as a pivot and extends throughapertures in each of the two arms and through the bore of the spacer 92.This pin is formed with an end portion of reduced diameter'which :passesthrough an opening 85 in the earner body plates 61 and 68 and is stakedat the "end to effect a firm attachment to the carrier "body. hnedgewise view of the assembled coin gauge is shown in Fig. 8.

The arm "-90 has a laterally projecting finger etc which is disposedwithin the coin pocket 15 in the path of the inserted coin, and a secondlaterally projecting finger 98b designed to cooperate with acomplementary finger 9-la on the arm 91, the latter overlapping thefinger 98b in the manner shown in Figs. 11 and 19. The springilt bearsat its end 9311 against the periphcry of the projecting end of thebushing 10 from whence it extends upwardly around the spool -92 in thecounterclockwise direction as viewed in *Fig. -'l9, thenc'e around a lug990 on the arm as in the counterclockwise direction, and thence againaround the spool 92, but in the clockwise direction. The opposite end93b of the spring bears against the finger am. With this springarrangement, involving as 'itdoesonly one spring, the arm -90 is biasedoutwardly so that the finger 90a normally assumes a position adjacentthe periphery of the coin carrier (see Fig. 19) while the 'arm '9l isbiased in the opposite direction. when the finger 90a is pressedinwardly of the 'coin carrier the arm 90 will rotate in the counter-:clockwisedirectionfas viewed inrFig. 1-9, and the arm 9! will at the.same time rotate in the-same direction, due "to its spring bias. Sincethe only force tending to'rotate the arm 9! in the'c'ounte'r clockwisedirection is that exerted by the spring 93, the arm is accordingly freeto rotate counterclockwise independently of the arm 91 if anythingshould interfere with rotation of the latter arm inthat direction. Undercertain conditions there may be interference with rotation of the armill in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig 1'9, hence theuse of two arms 90 and 9! instead of cl-single arm as heretofore.

The time indicator setting mechanism cumming gear train or brake Theshaft "53 (see 'Fig. 9) whose axis of rotation coincides with thema'joraxis of the meter "mech anism is journaled inthe intermediate frahfleplate "26 as well as in the sleeve 59, and fixedly secured to this shaftis a disc-like member 96 which 'constitutes the driven element of afunidirectional clutch through whose agency the shaft is rotatable onlyin one direction. The direction of "such rotation is indicated by theanew en the member '96 in Fig. 11 or in the counterclockwise directionas viewed from the coin carrier. Attached to the end or the shaft -53adjacent the jintermediatejrar'ne plate is by head or alert hand screw 9fee flexible coupling 98 whichgin turn, is connected to t I iving shaftof a Brake mechanism 99 com'p ng a jgear tram 00 together with aneseapfem' t Till and a balance wheel 5%. The fit-rake anisms'e is aself-contained unit of familiar ednstru ti is 'detachably mounted on therear frame pl'a 21.

Its function is to regulate the rat or igetur oi the time indicator t5,it capable or adju fihent by altering the tensicn or a hair sp generallythe same way mama ordinary iece is adjusted. The coupling ea ineiud s adriving disc Hit, a driven'disc T05, ai qanfniter mediate disc 1ue'ifiterp sea between the 'dr e and driven discs and having fouren'piie al notches W662 arranged inquadrature afidefi gg d by laterallyprojecting ears remand *ltsarernid en the driving and driven discs,respectively (See Fig. 11a). such a 'ic upiin'g will operate "satis-'factori'ly even w en there is some axia inisalign merit of the mainshaft and brake mechanism. and sois advantageous on this teeth-1e Thedriven 'disc I 85 'isfprovided with a central hub is? which isinternally threaded to engage the correspondingly threaded end of adriven shaft 168 constituting part of the brake mechanism (see Fig. 9).iThe eiitireprake mechanism ihcluding the driven shaft/ I03, is enclosedwithin a sheet metal housing Hi9 which is aetaehatiy secured to the rearframe plate 2-? by means {if three screws [10. name of the coupling 93,the brake mechanism 93, together with the driven disc 35, is immediatelywithdrawable re;- moval of the threescrews lit. Replacement of the brakemechanism, inev'ent or troublether'e with, can consequently be effectedin a minimum oftime. H p

I A sleeve H (see Fig. -9) loosely m-quiitdtn theshaft '53 h'as to itjasper gear 113 a ratchet wheel H4, and a cup-like sheet metal housing I[5 which latter encloses the-clutchfdi'sh t5 and serves as the drivingmember of the clutch. The clutch disc 36 (see Fig. 11) is prov-id edwith two diametrically opposite notches 9611, each designed toreceive {a U'shaped leaf 's'p g H6; and this disc isffurthei' cutaway to fdrih at.

ga et opposite sides of its axis of rotation two parallel chord surfaces95b each forming a track on which is positioned one of two rollers I I8,These rollers are positioned in the plane of the disc 95 within thehousing H5, and the chords of the two surfaces 98b are such as to formwith the housing two roller-chambers of radially graduated width sothat, when the housing H5 is rotated in the direction indicated by thearrow on the disc 96 in Fig. 11, the two rollers are gripped between therespective surfaces 95?) and the internal annular surface of the housingI I5. Upon rotation of the housing IE5 in the direction indicated, thedisc 99 is locked thereto by the rollers H9 and is thus caused to rotatewith the housing in that direction. When the housing H5 is rotated inthe opposite direction, however, the rollers H8 are not gripped betweenthe two surfaces 96b and the internal annular surface of the housingbecause the rollers are then being urged toward the wide ends of theirrespective roller chambers wherein the radial spacing between thegripping surfaces is greater than the diameter of the enclosed roller.The clutch disc 96 is therefore not effective to transmit motion in theopposite direction.

The shaft 53 is enlarged in diameter at 93a (see Fig. 9) to form ashoulder for locating the clutch disc 96 which is pressed onto theshaft. Loosely mounted on the shaft enlargement 53a are a circular plateH9 and a sleeve I29 to the latter of which is firmly affixed a circulardisc I2I having a radially extending arm I2Ia. A spiral spring I22disposed within the housing H5 is anchored by means of a square apertureI22a (see Fig. 11) to an inwardly projecting ear on the housing, and theinner end of this spring is similarly anchored to the sleeve I29. Thearm I2Ia rests upon one of the frame spacers 28 (see Fig. 9) againstwhich it is pressed by torsion force of the spring I22. The spring I22continuously urges the housing H5 and spur gear H3 in the direction ofrotation indicated by the arrow on the clutch disc 96 in Fig, 11. Aspresently will be made clear, the spring I22 is the return spring forthe time indicator 35. It is at all times partially wound and thuspartially energized, but becomes further energized in response torotation of the housing H5 in the direction indicated by the arrow onthe ratchet wheel I I4 in Fig. 11, this direction being opposite to thatindicated by the arrow on the clutch disc 95 in the same figure.

A semi-circular edge portion of the housing I I5 is cut away to a depthequal to the thickness of the disc [2! to form two diametricallyopposite shoulders I I5a which afford stop surfaces co-operating withthe arm I2Ia to limit the distance of rotation of the housing and of thegear H3 and ratchet wheel H4 (see Fig. 11) to facilitate assembly ofthese parts. The maximum possible rotation of these three components isconsiderably less than one-half turn. The actual maximum rotation iseven less, being of the order of 140. As shown in the drawings, forinstance Fig. 23, the gear H3 is meshed with a gear sector I24 afiixedto a shaft I25 which also carries the time indicator 35. Rotation of thegear II3 is necessarily accompanied by rotation of the sector I24, theshaft I25, and the time indicator the time indicator 35 is biased by thespring I22 toward the zero scale position; and rotation of the ratchetwheel H4 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 11 results in acorresponding movement of the time indicator 35 away from 16 the zeroscale position, and to a corresponding extent.

An externally flanged ring I26 (see Fig. 9) pressed onto one end of thesleeve II2 serves as a retainer for a time control plate I28 and abellcrank I29, both of which are rotatable on the ring I26 relatively tothe ratchet wheel H4 and gear H3. This time control plate (see Fig. 11)has an arcuate slot I28a therethrough which clears the shank of a screwI30 threaded into a tapped hole in the ratchet wheel II and by means ofwhich the time control plate can be secured against rotation relativelyto the ratchet wheel in any rotative position within the limitsdetermined by the length of the slot I28a. Provision is thereby made foradjusting the time control plate relative to the ratchet wheel so as tovary the unit of time during which the mechanism will operate inresponse to actuation by a major coin. The time control plate I28 hastwo peripheral teeth I32 and I33 rotatively spaced to a degreecorresponding to one-half of the total distance of rotation of the gearI I3 or, otherwise stated, one-half the total arcuate sweep of the timeindicator 35.

The coin gauge arm 9I has a laterally projecting ear 9 lb which overlapsthe time control plate I28 in the direction parallel to the axis ofrotation thereof; and when the coin gauge, including both arms 99 and9|, is pressed inwardly by a major coin, as shown in Fig. 21, the ear9Ib is so positioned radially that it is operative to engage one or theother of the two teeth I32 or I33, depending upon which of the two teethis then in position to be so engaged, and will effect such engagementwhen the coin carrier is thereafter rotated by the power mechanism inthe manner previously explained.

When the meter is fully run down, the tooth I 32 is so positioned that,upon rotation of the coin carrier with a major coin therein, it will beengaged by the ear 9Ib, and the time control plate, together with theratchet wheel H4, gear H3, and housing H5, will consequently be rotatedthrough a distance sufiicient to displace the time indicator 35 to anextent corresponding to a major unit of time, usually one hour. Rotationof the time control plate results in shifting the rotative position ofthe two teeth so that the tooth I33 then occupies the positionpreviously occupied by the tooth I32; and if a second major coin ispromptly deposited and the push plate 4| is depressed, as before, theear 9lb will engage the tooth I33 and, as a result, the time indicatorwill be further displaced to an extent corresponding to a second majorunit of time of the same duration as the first-mentioned major unit. If,on the contrary, there is a considerable delay between the deposit ofthe first major coin and the deposit of the second major coin, the ear9Ib will not engage the tooth I33 but will, instead, again engage thetooth I32 because during the interim the time control plate slowlyrotates in the opposite direction under impetus of the spring I22,subject to restraint of the brake mechanism 99.

The bellcrank I29 is freely rotatable on the ring I26, and has arelatively long arm I29a and a short arm I291) which latter isconnected, as will later be explained, to a coin counter which functionsto totalize the deposited coins in minor coin units. The free end of thearm I29a is approximately co-terminous with the teeth I32 and I33 andconsequently when the time control plate I28 is rotated, as a result ofengagement of one 1'7 of its teeth by theicoin gauge tear watbpthe freeend iofvthenrm I291: also'ibe engaged icy-this ear, andtthe "bellcrank"will c-accondingly be no tated. The-mechanism mherebyxthe coin counteris actuated to record receipt efiza major coin in response toxrotation:oftheihellcrank 129 be=:discussed m:.detai:l atlater point) ammali newSpecial reference is now made to Figs. 9-, '13 and 23-25 in coniiunctionwith the --ensu=in g description or mechanism having to do specifieail ywith setting'ofithe'meter'in respons *o a minor coin, and explanation ofthe mode of peration This pawl comprises-two parallel arms i351) andI350 which are laterally'spaoe'd and "joinedtooth-er by a bridge portion3511. The arm 435c is notched-to form a shoulder at Mt which ispositioned tor engagement by' the' ear 9 lb ofth'e coin gauge arm '91whenever the coin carrieriis rotated with a minor coin, as illustratedin-Figs. 23-25. The pawl"l'35*is--pivctally connectedat I 31 to thedistal -end'--of an arm ittwhich is mounted -for free rotation on abushing I39 fixedly secured to and carried by a "shaft lfllil(seeFigxQ); 'A 'spring I42 "havingone" end can" nected'tothe arm I351;and the other end anohored to a finger 1 4 la on 'a bracket 14 t, servesnormally to hold the pawl i135 and the arm H8 in the 'retractedpositions-shown in Fig. 2'3 whfere the coin carrier occupiesitsnor-malcom-receiving position with -a"minor" coin inserted therein.Fig. "-24 shows the -condition-;which obtains when the coin carrier ispartially rotated witha minor coin,rthe ea-r Q Ib bei-ng about to engagethe -shoul der 13 6011 the'pawl 1 35. Fig."25 shows-aeolidition whichobtains after the ear 9lb l-1as'engaged the shoulder l'36 of the pawl"l"' and the coin carrier has completed its rotarymovernent. When the ear9 lb'encounters the shoulder i136 theypawl 'l35is rotated clockwiseaboutits pivot I31 until the lug 135a is seated in a notch 'be tween twoof the-ratchetteeth I34; thereafter the Iorcerimparted to the pawl I 35.by the-coin gaugeproduces-rotation of theflratc'het wheel PM andconcurrent rotationaof theigear' I13. Because thepawll35 is precludedfrom'further rotation after engaging the ratchetiwheel'll l, any furthermovement thereofbythe coin gauge causes the arm I38 to rotate :from thenormal position in which it is shown in Fig; 23 to theialternateposition of Fig. 25. The rotative displacement of the ratchet wheel Itl-..efected by a single actuation of the pawl ,l35rin response to a minorcoin, is a proportional part of the angulartdisplacement thereof whichoccurs :in: response 'to a major coin. For example; if the value of'theminor coin is one-fifth that of themajor coin, the mechanism wouldordinarily be so designed that e nceofrotaticnofthe ratchet wheel H4effected by ,a single actuation of the pawl I35 is one-fifth thedistanceof rotation thereof effected in response to a' major coin. It. is optional, however, to design the mechanism otherwise, so as to cause adisproportionate displacement of the. ratchet wheel in return gforzaminor coin.

1:8 Thecoinicozmter and counter-actuating mecham'sm The coin counter-perso which is identified as a whole. by lreffi fence numeral is shown inperspective in FigilB. ItJ'is"removably"ata h d p d i por ed by th rea'ili m tlat "at t l a bni h wn'iinitie 'l; nd o rate to "count the-coinsin'relatio'n to the inumber pb ted nd otir atimw e me sete .i "th i di t"Thi d v ce n ludj driuen spur pinion let whichyis continuously in esh-Wh 's stair 4 5 nd r ic idrthe pinion" M6 is' e fiective to actuatethet'counter n hu sa th 'm eri al reapingommen inpropo'rtion to mauveadvance of thegear "WI. r g s er a major eqm n quint-er "the gearMTrnust rotate through a distance which si rq crtiqn t to t 'tval 'e orthe major oin, and lilgewiseto register ;-a minor 'cointhe gear 7 m s rte "thr u a stan which proportionate to the "value" of the minor coin.

Reierring now tofthe' bellcrank 1Z9 see fifig. 1'1)"; 'it"has-'-bee 1'ipreviously noted that when the coin gauge ear fitb engages one ofithetwo iteeth l'3 '2or 1 31-3 on the time controlplate 123 it"aflso engages*thef-free endlliqition of the *b'ellcr'ank arm 139a, being -thusadapted to rotate the bellcrank at the same'tim'e -'that it' rotates the{t he control plate. The car "911153180 engages-the arm" I'd-9o and oneorthe other ofthe' teeth it? or 133 onlywhena major coin'is inthecoincarrier. The hellcrarrk If? 9'isrnev'er displaced from its "normalposition"save fin response t the fepo sit oj a inaiiorpoin.

*sheet'fmetafl rocker 14,8 (:seeFig. 1-3) which is smel -wearablethebushing its-.9 (see was) includes an arm MBa which is aperturedto'eesithelateratly protecting:lowerend-orsa link M9, the upper end ofwhich lgagcs an aperture 9 e was: "'4? n s rin w i as end "of whichengages "t teeth vof "theratchet wheel I 59 "(see'Fi'gsg 1 31; 9; andzl); A Y ng e 11 e han t he ret st has-its enu'enfgagedwith'the teethofthe. same rat; wheel and -serves'jto preyen; reverse rota on thereof.Inasmuch "asr the gear hliais am, .to the's'haft cat on; in turn; is'affixed he bus -|e9 whichalsois'alfixed tothe ratchet r50; *rotation ofmammal-ta in e" cibekw se dire'eti'omas viewed mtigs. 19 andjfzl wi'llefilect at corresponding rotation "of" the gear" old?" and also acommensurate progression of the coin counter -M5; Each rotation of thehellcrami" 1'29 by the-coin gauge-wiltpause the" ocker-in to berotatedclockwise "through" the agency cr me link I49, and will al'soefiect 'arct a't'ion er the gear 31:41 'suflici-ently to actuate thecoin counter 19 engages the teeth, of the ratchet wheel I50. There aretwo pawls, II and I53, and a spring dog I54 all engaging the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel I50.

The normal position of the rocker I52 is that shown in Fig. 23 whereinthe left-hand ear I52b bears against the adjacent side of the arm I38.As this arm is rotated toward the position shown in Fig. 25, in responseto minor coin actuation, it tardily engages the right-hand ear I52?) andthus produces a clockwise rotation of the rocker I52 through a smalldistance. This occurs during the final portion of the driving movementof the pawl I35 which is effected when the meter is set with a minorcoin. During this clockwise rotation of the rocker I52 the ratchet wheelI50 is rotated by the pawl I53, but the extent of its rotation is only afraction of the distance through which it is rotated by the pawl I5I inresponse to rotation of the rocker I48. The ratio of the two distancesof rotation of the ratchet wheel I50 effected respectively by therockers I48 and I52 corresponds with the ratio of the major and minorcoin values. The coin counter is progressed by the lesser rotation ofthe ratchet wheel I50 to an extent commensurate with the value of aminor coin.

The bracket I4l (see Fig. 13) provides an outboard bearing for the shaftI40, and is rigidly secured to the plate 88 by means of two screwsHill). The part I59 (see Figs. 9 and 13) serves only as a spacer. Acantilever wire spring I63 (see Fig. 19) is anchored at one end to theplate 81 and engages at its other end the finger I481). This springfunctions to bias the rocker I48 counterclockwise toward the positionshown in Fig. 19. It also biases the bellcrank I29 toward its normalposition (see Fig. 19)

The coin arresting and release mechanism The front frame plate 25 has arectangular opening I55 (see Figs. 1, 6 and 10) which registers with awindow (not shown) in the housing H; and the plate 81 which is spacedrearwardly of the front frame plate has two circular openings I56 andI51 in registration with the opening I55 the purpose being to makevisible the last-deposited major and minor coins, thus enabling theattending oflicer to ascertain whether the operator of a parked car hasdeposited a proper coin. Both coins are thus exposed to view, and if aslug of major size has succeeded in purchasing time it must be replacedby a major, not a minor, coin for proper operation.

The two plates 81 and 88 are spaced laterally by the plate 88 on whichis formed the coin track 85, and also by a spacer strip 89 of the samethickness as the plate 85 (see Fig. 13). The thickness of the plate 86and spacer strip 89 is slightly greater than that of a major coin, as isalso the plate 68 of the coin carrier which is aligned with the plates86 and 89 (see Fig. 9). Otherwise stated, the coin carrier pocket I5(see Fig. 11) is aligned laterally with the coin track 85.

When the coin carrier has rotated about 90 from the coin-receivingposition in which it is shown in Figs. 19 and 23 to the coin-dischargeposition of Figs. 21 and 25, the coin is ejected downwardly by the forceof gravity. The descending coin passes through the space between theplates 8! and 88 until it either strikes a stop I58 (which is an earformed on the plate 88 projecting into the coin passageway) or until itstrikes a coin held in the passageway and is deflected thereby. Assumingthat there is no previouslydeposited coin in the meter, when either amajor or minor coin drops from the carrier it will strike the stop I58and will be deflected thereby to one side or the other. If thefirst-deposited coin is a major coin L, as shown in Figs. 19-22, it willbounce off the stop I58 to the right, as per Fig. 19. This it willnormally do because the stop I58 is positioned slightly to the left ofthe descending major coin. In that event the coin will be caught on anear [480 which forms an integral part of the rocker I48 and projectslaterally therefrom underneath the arcuately curved edge surface 880formed on the plate 88, and thus into the path of the descending coin.The position in which the coin L is held by the ear I480 and stop I58 inFig. 19 is in registration with the opening I56, and the coin isaccordingly visible through the opening I55 and the window in the meterhousing. If another major coin be deposited in the meter while theprevious major coin L is held by the ear I 480, as shown in Fig. 19,operation of the meter with a major coin will produce clockwise rotationof the rocker I48 from the position of Fig. 19 to that of Fig. 21, andthe ear I480 will move to the left (see Fig. 21) and release thepreviously deposited coin L while the ear I48b moves in the samedirection to a position wherein it'is effective to intercept thelast-deposited coin. When the rocker I43 is immediately thereafterreturned to its normal position (see Fig. 19) as a result of the returnmovement of the coin carrier, the last-deposited coin is released by theear I482) and allowed to drop, but is immediately intercepted by the earI480. In Fig. 19 a major coin L is shown supported on the ear I480 andstop I58, conjointly. In Fig. 21 the same coin L is shown dropping fromthe meter as a result of the clockwise movement of the finger I480; andin the same figure a later-deposited major coin L is shown supported onthe ear I481). When the rocker I48 returns to the position of Fig. 19,as it does incidentally to the return of the coin carrier to normalposition, the coin L will be released from the position in which it isshown in Fig. 21 and will descend to the position of the coin L in Fig.19.

When there is no previously-deposited coin in the meter, if a minor coinS is deposited it will take the same course as that previously describedwith reference to a major coin and will thus appear at the opening I55.It is an unusual condition, however, not to have a coin resting on theear I480, as shown in Fig. 19, and one which can obtain only when themeter is first put into service or in event of the coins being removedby a service man and not replaced before the meter is put back intoservice. Therefore, except for the rare instances mentioned above, thereis always a major coin L resting on the ear I480, as shown in Fig. 19,whenever a minor coin S is deposited.

Under normal conditions when a minor coin S descends from the coincarrier (see Fig. 23) it strikes the previously-deposited coin L and isdeflected to the left, and then comes to rest on the ear 552d where itis in registration with the opening I5; (see Fig. 1). Under the samenormal conditions there is always a minor coin resting on the ear I52d;and when the rocker I52 is rotated clockwise from the position of Fig.23 to that of Fig. 25, the ear I52d is moved sufliciently to the left(see Fig. 25) to release the previouslydeposite-d minor coin. The rockerI52 is not displaced from its normal position until the coin carrier hasreached nearly the end of its counterclockwise rotation, and it isthereafter quickly

